Amos Stanton

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF STONINGTON, county of New London, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1649 to 1900, by Richard Anson Wheeler, New London, CT, 1900, p. 583

Sea Captain

"No one among the heroes that fell at Groton Heights in military experience and ability surpassed Captain Amos Stanton He had been in actual service n the cause of the Colonies almost from the commencement of hostilities with the mother country and was an accomplished soldier He had become distinguished not only as a military man but as a patriot devoted to the interests of his country At the time of the battle and massacre at Fort Griswold he held the rank of captain in the Continental Army and was home on a furlough Hearing the alarm guns on the morning of the battle he hastened to the fort and was warmly welcomed by Ledyard and his brave compatriots During the councils of war held by the officers of the fort on the morning of the 6th he favored a different line of defence than the one adopted by his brother officers His plan was to meet and skirmish with the British troops as soon after their landing as would bring them into the woodland near the shore By skilfully manoeuvring his men he could make his force appear far more formidable than it really was and by skirmishing with the enemy and holding them in check he would be joined by all the volunteers who were constantly arriving some of whom refused to enter the fort where in case of defeat there was no escape But his opinions were overruled and the result is known

The possession of great physical power and activity with a firmness and courage that nothing could daunt fitted him for a military leader But what could personal prowess and superhuman strength do against an overwhelming disciplined force Finding that the garrison rison were to be put to the sword he rushed among the enemy and sold his life at a fearful cost and finally sank to the earth riddled with bayonets and bullets Captain Stanton descended from a noble line of ancestors Paternally he descended from the famous Indian warrior Captain George Denison and from Thomas Stanton the interpreter general of New England Maternally he descended from John Alden of the Mayflower through his son David Alden who married Mary Southworth daughter of Constant South worth who descended from Sir Gilbert Southworth Knight of Southworth Hall England"

source: The Battle of Groton Heights: A Collection of Narratives, Official Reports ...By William Wallace Harris p. 262-3

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